Two motorcycists airlifted from separate Laconia crashes; another arrested

A section of North Main Street in Laconia was closed for about a half-hour Sunday evening after a car struck a motorcycle, causing two people on the bike to suffer serious injuries. Police said the accident remains under investigation. (BEA LEWIS/UNION LEADER CORRESPONDENT)

TERRY WHIPPLE

LACONIA — Police responded to two motorcycle crashes within a little over an hour Sunday evening, with two bikers airlifted to a hospital and a third arrested for driving while intoxicated.

Police said a car turning onto North Main from Blueberry Lane struck a motorcycle at 5:43 p.m.

“The male and female were thrown from the bike and the female ended up being thrown under a truck that was stopped in traffic to turn onto Blueberry Lane,” police said in a news release.

The motorcyclists were first taken to Lakes Region General Hospital but were airlifted with serious injuries to Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon.

Drugs, alcohol and speed do not appear to be factors in that crash, police said.

At 7 p.m., emergency workers were called to 231 Rollercoaster Road for a report of a motorcycle accident.

Police said Terry Whipple, 51, of 622 Daniel Webster Highway, Woodstock, had gone off the road and hit a wall.

Whipple was arrested for driving under the influence, booked and bailed.

He is due in Laconia circuit court Oct. 5.

Police ask anyone who witnessed or has any information regarding either of these accidents is asked to call officer Sean McCormack or officer Tyler Babineau at 603-524-5252.